I think being a Wapsi Girl means you’re not only comfortable with yourself, you’re happy with what you are. Don’t get me wrong, I have my days where I feel nothing I do is good enough and I just want to eat raw cookie dough. But more often than not I’m very happy with myself.

It wasn’t always like this. When I was ten (and I remember that I was ten, because Return of the Jedi had come out that summer, and I had seen it 11 times), I was shy and lonely. My only friends were characters in books that I had read about. I was constantly picked on at my school, and I pulled out my eyelashes due to the stress. But when I was alone, I dreamt I was Wonder Girl, or the third Skywalker sibling. And she was always brave and strong and independent. She didn’t wait around for the guys to rescue her; she could rescue herself. She was smart and kind and pretty, and she never put anyone else down.

So one day, it occurred to me. “Why couldn’t I be all those things that I dreamt about?”

It wasn’t easy. And it was a long road to become who I am today. But I like who I am. I like the fact I’m going back to school after all this time. I like that I’m confident and smart and strong. I like me. I love what I’ve developed into. And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me.

As for what I am at this very moment? I’m a smart, sexy, funny, curvy woman. I’m a full-time desktop publisher going to school part time to become a full time graphic designer. I’m an illustrator with not enough time to draw. I’m a founding member of the New England chapter of the International Wenches Guild. I’m a wife of five wonderful years as of July 13th. I have wonderful friends and family who are all very supportive of me. I just bought my first home. And I have two cats who think that they’re human.